Going Round the Bend (A Lesson Learned in Counter-Steering)

[Imola Duke]

Viv the monster m900 will sound the same
I just fancy a change.... DD bike for racing.... monster for fun in comfort and they are real world uk road bikes... My SS 900 feels to much like the race bike and..............
monsters are a bostin bike
I think the pre season track days will be fun on the old 600ss DDer
Can we race now ?

[ducbird]

Originally Posted by Imola Duke

Viv the monster m900 will sound the same
I just fancy a change.... DD bike for racing.... monster for fun in comfort and they are real world uk road bikes... My SS 900 feels to much like the race bike and..............
monsters are a bostin bike
I think the pre season track days will be fun on the old 600ss DDer
Can we race now ?

oh well if its a monster ur getting i can see the appeal very bostin
i like that word

[colicabcadam]

i always remember taking a bend while on my training, I thought I approached it too fast, so rather than trying to go round it, i whacked the brakes on and i went up on the pavement LOL. Luckily it was in the country side.

The problem here was a few things, taget fixation, lack of faith in the tyres as i always had a fear of them locking up and slowing down in the first place, bike just wont turn if you're on the brakes. Well, unless you're planning on power sliding round haha

We all learn from our mistakes, i did.

[MarkST]

Originally Posted by colicabcadam

We all learn from our mistakes, i did.

Me too, I once married a monster from outer space.

[Steve GD]

Originally Posted by MarkST

Me too, I once married a monster from outer space.

Didn't see that one coming at all!

[Steve GD]

Originally Posted by Imola Duke

Steve I didn't say such a thing Carbs will go with the ss if the price is right...!
or remove them and fit them to a 900 monster when i sell the SS...
Or if the price is right leave them on the SS and order a new set of the BOSTIN
Carbs .......Me without fcr's is like a fish out of water.... stuff the mikunis... bin fodder

Ducbird..... bostin sandwich

OK...I feel better now!

[LAP13]

Originally Posted by Stu2K7

I think I am going to be VERY nervy about initially steering left to go right and vice versa but hey I'll give it a try...Stu

I first tried it when going in a straight line as I couldn't get my head round the principle... Just gently (very) put pressure on the bars to get a feel as to how the bike felt and reacted.

Now I do have to consciously do it when in bends as it's not something that comes particularly naturally, however it does make a huge difference.

I'm still to get comfortable with it and shifting weight/position etc as I still haven't managed to get my knee down or even feel entirely comfortable with any speed.

Oh and no, you don't have to know about it to pass your test

[Kenoir]

For all those who aren't sure about counter-steer, just go for a ride and when you're going around a bend especially as you're turning in, feel where you're putting pressure on the bars. You'll be counter-steering, you may not have realised it before but you've always done it.

[lokyc]

I tend to agree with the people who suggest shifting body position. As mentioned before, unlike cars, single-tracked vehicles turn by their lean. All turns occur because there is a centrifugal force acting towards the centre of the circle. In cars, this is achieved by steering the front wheels to try to get the drive towards the centre. In bikes, we can do the same thing with the handle bars. But leaning is even better, because the whole weight of the bike and rider, and the drive contributes to the turning force. It gets better at higher speeds because then the reaction force of the bike sinking onto the road increases turning force. This of course is only until the grip from the tyres are overcome. but essentially, this is why bikes turn better.

If you watch any bike race like MotoGP, you dun see them use the handlebars much. The part about instinct comes to play. If one shifts one's body towards the direction of turn. And the easiest way is to start from the hard by turning and looking at where one wants to go. Dropping the shoulder and elbow helps. To the extremes of shifting one's arse and sticking the knee out (not even knee down!).

And the most important part keep the arms relaxed. Cos when it is, how to use the handle bars, to steer or counter steer, becomes instinctive. The bike will guide you. Your arms act like dampers to keep it stable. In fact, i think at certain track schools, they teach how not to use your arms to ride. Something like handlebars are only convenient spots to rest your hands and mount controls.

[Dave101]

its over a year since i got my bike and im still not doing counter steer right, i can go in faster, and hold my line, or even tighten it up while im going round, but the faster i go, it seems the higher my personal centre of gravity becomes, i mean i dont crouch down to the bike, i feel like im sat upright and as a result dont 'feel' the bike and the corner comfortably.

each time i go into a corner, im trying the hug the bike, keep lower, and shift my body weight around, and press on the footpegs and keep lighter on the handlebars, and its coming..slowly!
at least im not hammering on brakes and tempting fate anymore!

[lokyc]

watch the MCN video on getting the knee down. Its all about body position. Upper body position. Get a hang of moving your shoulders past the 2 mirrors. Try maintaining a straight line first. Maybe one of the problems is keeping your arms stiff. Keep elbows bent and arm relaxed. You should be able to move just your shoulders and upper body without affecting the steering. The strength comes from the back and obliques, and not from pushing the bike with your arms. The latter will simply tilt the bike while keeping you upright. Once you are happy with moving your upper body at will while keeping the bike in control, try dropping your elbows, and together with them, your shoulder and head.

Key is to forget about the handle bars and use your arse and your thighs to control the bike. Now drop the elbow, look at where you want to turn to, drop the upper body and lean the bike. Steering will follow.

I haven't been brave enough to attempt a knee-down in this weather and the HGV potholed roads in London. But position the balls of the feet at the edge of the pegs and sticking the though out a little helps improve stability.

It all seems like little adjustment. But at high speed, on a motorcycle, little changes like these are all hat's required to make or break a good manouvre. You will find by shifting your weight around, you will hardly need to lean the bike when riding round town. Think of how much more you can do on the open road and at speed!